Rangers boss on Dundee pitch, crocked Ibrox trio and Ross County: bumper Q&A in full
16/04/2024 16:27
Rangers manager Philippe Clement was in defiant mood as he addressed a press conference ahead of the trip to Dundee.
The Ibrox side have twice had their preparations for this match disrupted with the Rangers manager claiming after the weekend's defeat to Ross County that the situation certainly didn't help.
That result has sent a shockwave through Rangers with fans now very nervous that this squad of perennial bottle-merchants have surrendered the title to Celtic.
But with this clash the final post-split fixture and Rangers potentially set to go within a point of the league leaders, Philippe Clement told a press conference that he expects a reaction v Dundee.
The Rangers manager also gave an injury update on several players whilst he challenged his side to prove they have what it takes to become winners at Ibrox.
The match is set to go ahead at Dens Park after a pitch inspection earlier today.
Philippe Clement Dundee v Rangers press conference
The match goes ahead at Dens Park, how do you feel about that?
"That the people who decided that are sure that there will be a game tomorrow, so that's a very positive thing."
Are there no further concerns from you given the issues around the last game?
"I am not the guy from the half-full glass or the empty glass so I think everybody knows and everybody knew also about taking this decision. How it's not processed, how it was prepared, that the people who decided to play tomorrow at Dens Park it's 200% sure we're going to play there. So they know the weather forecast probably and they're certain that the pitch will cope with that so it's good. It's good for us also to know where we will play, how we can prepare that and it's now go ahead for this game. I think everybody, people from Dundee, people from Rangers, are happy that finally we can play this game."
Is it good to put the saga behind you and focus on the game?
"Yeah of course because we don't have anything to say or do with that. We can only focus on ourselves and on our football. We had some work to do with that also after the weekend. Of course we were not happy, how we played, how we conceded goals, how we missed also a few really good chances and because of that we lost points, so all the focus has been on that."
What's been the reaction from the players following the defeat to Ross County?
"They were very disappointed in themselves and that's a positive thing. They understood, they went to the fans also, I think it's a big step forward. In the past they just stepped inside. It's stayed together in that way and that's a very important point from my side also that it stays like that, also in the disappointment that you stay together. Yeah, they were down after the game about the performance. We had the next day, I had some clear words after the game and the next day we made a good debriefing about what went wrong, individually, collectively, and how we can make it better again. In France they accident les parkour, off-day I think you say in English. We can call it like that. It's the first time in six months that I see my team like that, so I was disappointed also about that but I think every manager has these moments. Even with teams that win amazing things. I've been watching now this series about the treble of Man City of last year and I saw quite a few of those moments in this documentary. It doesn't mean I want to see it back on Wednesday of course! It's part of the game. It's not something that you want, not the players, not the manager, not the fans, nobody, but the most important is how you react after that. I have a good feeling around that, so that I will see the real face of my team again tomorrow."
You said it was an off-day but if you look at recent results, you dropped points at home to Motherwell too, is recent form a concern?
"No because Motherwell was a freak accident that could've been a game that you win 6-1. We had enough chances there and it was an unlucky day. Celtic game; it's a big game. We didn't start well, we talked about that, but we had a great reaction and we played a really good second half and I think that at the end a draw is deserved because each team had one half. Totally. We had totally the second half and we had the last chance also to win that game, but this one was a bad one, that's true. So you need to react and show better quality."
Are out of form players in your squad at risk of being taken out of the side?
"At risk is such a negative word. Of course I can change things and it's always looking what is the best team for that moment and also with the games to come. So that's something that fans don't always understand, because they are always wanting to play with 'the best' at that moment. But if you play with the best who comes out of injury for example and he plays three games in a row, you know the second game you get less and the last game you don't get anything anymore at one moment. So we need to take into account all those things, the physical ability of the players, and that's been the most difficult thing the last couple of months. That we had so many players out, now coming back also. But you see players coming back out of injury that the first time it's really good, the second time it can be already a little bit less because they're less fresh and they need to find this rhythm again, that takes time also. We need to take all these things into account to every time pick the best starting team and also players coming in with freshness to win games."
Any players returning such as Mohamed Diomande or Ridvan Yilmaz?
"No. Ridvan not returning and Mohamed, I hope to have him back for the cup semi-final but he will not be ready for tomorrow. And Leon Balogun was sick the last couple of days so he's still not totally fit."
How is Ridvan? Is he closer to a return?
"Yes he's closer day by day but yeah, those are the frustrating things of this season also. That you have Abda (Sima) going to national team, getting an injury there and being almost three months out and with Ridvan the same thing. Not in an amount of time but we lose him already three, four weeks now with a severe injury. So those are frustrating things but it's about others then to do the job and to take the points like that."
You conceded more chances than regular v Ross County, do you think it was a case of it being an off day?
"Yeah, yeah, but it had to do with structure, organisation, it had to do with so much will to attack and to make the difference that we forget to do our basics. We talked about that. We didn't do our basics anymore, we didn't show our structure, what's been our strong point all season. Because of that we were also the team who conceded the least goals although we played attacking football. Sometimes you need a knock on your head to remind you again what you need to do to be strong and not only to think about the fine details but to stay in your foundation. It was with good will and good intention but we lost our structure in that way and like this we conceded goals that were for sure avoidable."
Jack Butland says the season starts again now, six games to go, is that important for you?
"I hope eight but I only look at one game, Dundee. Like we've been doing all season and I hope Jack will do that also like the rest of the team. Because the moment you start to think about six or eight or four weeks to go or five weeks to go and then it's holiday, then you become in the s***. That's the worst thing you can do, sorry that I used that word. I'm too familiar with you guys now. No, it's the baddest thing you can do is to look. It's just game-by-game going full. It's about that. That's the way they did it and that's the way they are in this situation now to be fighting for still a lot of things. So that's why I expect tomorrow from the whole squad, every second of the game to go full with all their energy and not to think about what's going on a few days after. That's for afterwards."
Have you had to reinstall the players belief after the defeat?
"I don't think so. If that's the case then you're not at your place at Rangers. If you lose your belief with one bad performance or losing points, then you are not ready for that, to fight for trophies, to fight for titles. Because it's just part of the journey. There's not one team in the world who wins title by every game being the best, and we were better, we had more chances, we could've won the game, but every game to be that everybody said after 'wow, this team was really good'. It doesn't happen. Not one season, not one team in the world. So what are the good teams? The teams who make faults and they react directly and they don't lose belief. So that's part of being a winner and a successful player and it's that kind of players that we need here in the building, to achieve what we want to achieve altogether."
Is this is a test of your player's character?
"It's an interesting one again. So I will get to know the team again better, to make the right decisions towards next season. It doesn't mean that it's only a decision about tomorrow or something, it will always be a decision after the seven, eight months together, but these are important moments also to show as a player, I'm here of course."
Your captain takes a lot of criticism…
"That's part of being captain and I've been in that position also in the past. As captain you a symbol of the club and when things go well you are the main man and you get all the praise and all the spotlights. When things are not well, and this time and age it's different than before because it's every three days or heaven or hell, then you get more stick. That's part of the job. Tav is ready for that also. It's not his first experience in that way and he's got a lot of praise this season also, what he deserved also for what he's been doing. Was he good on Sunday? No. He was also the first one to recognise that but there was not really one on the pitch who was really good and they know and they understand and they want to react now."
Are you saying that the players need to show you in the last few games of the season that they deserve to be here for the next campaign?
"No, don't take it so literally but that's always part of the story, that after a season the decision is made what is the group for next season. That's always part of the story for every team in the world, that I just want to say. It's not that there is an exam now the next six weeks but it's always a part of if you want to grow, if you want to be successful then you need to make decisions at the end of the season so of course it's important to perform. But it's in every team in the world the same."
On Ridvan Yilmaz, do you expect him back any time soon?
"He will come back (before the end of the season) but it's difficult for me to say if it's in a few days or in two weeks. I'm sure it's not going to be a long, long term anymore. He's on the pitch now, he's training individually, he's taking steps but he's not training with the squad yet."
How are you going to ensure Rangers won't be so open again?
"It had a lot to do with communication also. What we've been really strong on. Last couple of months the communication together and that was not the case during this game and because of this our structure was also less than before, so everybody understands. It's been a really strong point that our structure was there all season and what was less the case in the beginning of the season and because of that you had also games like we had now. So it was a little bit a throwback to those times, what I totally don't want to see because it's against all my principles in football. So yes, the team understands. In their eagerness to score goals they forget their basics so we need to focus on our basics again."
What do you expect from Dundee?
"That they have a free ride tomorrow, that they will feel it like that also. Nothing to lose, they will go full to win this game. It's a different situation than if we would've played one week ago when the pressure was on. So it's a different situation but that's Dundee's situation, my situation is that I'm focused on my team, what they need to do. So in that way the face of Dundee and how they approach the game will be different."
Lammers is flying on loan at Utrecht – is he in your plans for next season?
"No I didn't speak with him but we will make this evaluation like I said also about all the rest after the season and to see how everybody performed in this period. Not only me, that's together with the people of the board to make the right decisions to make a really strong squad and even a better squad next season."
